The Rugby Championship kicks off for 2017 this weekend, starting with old foes New Zealand and Australia facing off in a match that doubles as the first of the three-match Bledisloe Cup series. So where will the two matches be played, what time do they kick off, and who will feature?

Matildas lament ref and Brazil police

Brazilian police and a vocal home crowd conspired against Australia's women's footballers in their gut-wrenching exit from the Olympic Games, the Matildas believe.

The Australians were knocked out of the Rio Games by host nation Brazil, losing a tense penalty shootout 7-6 on Friday night (Saturday AEST) in a quarter-final in Mineiro.

Defender Alanna Kennedy missed her spot kick, giving the Brazilians victory, but the Australians are frustrated that Brazil's goalkeeper Barbara's illegal moves off her line in the shootout weren't detected by referees.

"It was an unfair advantage," midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight said.

"Even in our pre-tournament meeting with the referees, they highlighted that they would be searching and looking and keeping an eye out for goalkeepers moving off the line.

"It's just disappointing that they actually didn't see that during the penalty shootout but that is a fact of football.

"We didn't do what we could have and put pressure on the referee, that's a disappointing aspect of our game.